Prefabricated fireproof building construction



May 24, 1955 Y L. CHERRY PREFABRICATED FIREPROOF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l I Y M m OE E mH w m C W m m U P I. OY X B 3 N wm VA r May 24, 1955 L. CHERRY PREFABRICATED FIREPROOF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEIQJTOR May 24, 1955 L. CHERRY PREFABRICATED FIREPROOF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 4 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 15, 1947 May 24, 1955 L. CHERRY PREFABRICATED FIREPROOF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR LOUIS CHERRY anL HI g I m'rom s United States Patent PREFABRICATED FIREPROOF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Louis Cherry, New, York, N. Y.

Application January 15, 1947, Serial No. 722,148

3 Claims. (Cl. 72-15) This invention relates to building constructions, and particularly to prefabricated fireproof stone building constructions.

Building construction has not changed from the beginning. In each construction the various pieces, making up the building, be they wood or stone, are placed and joined together in proper position, piece by piece. In poured concrete structures, wooden frameworks are assembled for supporting the concrete before it hardens. After the concrete has been poured and hardened, the wooden framework is removed. These methods have not varied and have not been improved upon to keep up with other mass production methods of manufacturing which have taken place.

Recently, prefabricated wooden structures have come into being in which the wooden beams and the panels are made at a factory and shipped to the location for assembly. Plywood or plastic panels have been used. Fireproof or stone structures, on the other hand, continue to be made in the old way. Numerous attempts have been made to find a fireproof construction which would be suitable for prefabricated units which may be assembled economically on location, but to date none has been found which has proved to be satisfactory. None has been adopted by the building industry.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a prefabricated fireproof concrete, stone or brick veneer building construction.

Another object is to provide a prefabricated concrete, stone or brick veneer structure in which the various units may be interlocked.

Another object is to provide a prefabricated fireproof a Yet another object is to provide a new and improved construction design for the individual units.

A further object is to provide a new and improved reinforcement for concrete structures.

An additional object is to provide a new design for building construction by which the various columns,

beams, girders, floor panels, ceilings, walls, etc., may be made of poured concrete and plaster as individual units and each part completed as a unit in the factory and delivered to the building site for assembly only.

Further objects will be apparent after a study of the following description, claims and drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the basic form for one unit of my building construction, which unit may be part of several;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the girders, columns,

and piers for suspending and supporting the walls of my building construction, the view being partially in cross section with parts cut away for clarity and illustrating the joining of any two floors or stories of the building;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing in greater detail an outside corner of the building showing a corner column partially cut away with girders in place supported by the column;

Fig. 3a is a detailed top view of the column of Fig. 3 showing the brackets forming part of the column, which support the girders;

Fig. 4 is another view of the corner column of Fig. 3 with floor slabs in place;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a top view of an interior column forming part of the building construction showing the supporting brackets as part of the column with an end of one girder in place;

Fig. 8 is atop view of the column of Fig. 7 showing the brackets and girders, and additionally floor slabs in place;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view through 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view through 1010 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of one end of a girder shown in Fig. 7, illustrating the'structure thereof. Each of the various units of my building construction are made of poured concrete, walls of plaster, preferably with steel rod reinforcement. However, while I shall speak of poured concrete throughout my description, it will be apparent that the same principles are applicable to any artificial stone, or plaster or any fireproof structure. All of the units are made up or precast at a central factory. The prefabricated units are then shipped to the location of the building for assembly.

The basic support for my construction comprises a number of poured concrete supporting columns illustrated in Fig. 1. These columns may be placed in position at the location, after which the various other units will be assembled around and upon the supporting columns.

These columns and their construction have a double purpose, firstand this is the primary purpose--they integrate the building site, transportation, and factory producing a continuous chain of conveyance and assembly by means of a continuous monorail system, for instance, the plates on bottom of the uprights of a welded monorail unit are bolted to the plates on the top of the columns. The truck also has a monorail which receives all the building parts too heavy to be handled by men from factory monorail and during delivery are suspended from the truck monorail which connects with the monorail on the columns. After conveying and placing all the building parts aroundthis group of columns, the monorail unit is moved as a unit by a crane to another group of columns. This coordination between the source of production, transportation and building site makes it economically possible to produce buildings not only by mass production in the factory but also by mass assembly on the building site. This eliminates the most costly part of the construction. Second, the columns carry the whole building on their brackets and provide a sturdy building.

As seen in Fig. 1, the columns will have various forms. Each column preferably is octagonal for reasons which will be apparent as the description proceeds. The principles are not limited to octagonal construction, however.

The reinforcement framework includes vertical metal reinforcement rods. According to the octagonal construction, there will be one rod at each corner. A reinforced angular spiral winds about the rods. If desired, the spiral winding may be assembled first, after which the vertical rods may be placed in position in the corners. After the reinforcement has been completed and placed in position, the concrete is poured in the usual way. The columns may be made to any desired dimension which will vary according to the particular circumstances of use.

A metal plate 27 is afiixed so as to form the top of the column 21 by connecting the plate to the metal reinforcement rods by any suitable way, such as welding, for instance. Preferably, the metal plate 27 is square so as to provide projecting corners. These corners may have holes 28 therein for connecting bolts, which may be used when the various columns are placed in position during assembly. The plate 27 is useful also in lifting and placing the column in position, by a crane, or to receive a monorail unit to convey all parts of the building to their designated place and also to receive the successive columns.

This form of reinforcement for the columns has a number of advantages. For one thing, the vertical rods are readily placed in position, due to the octagonal or angular construction in which corners are provided. This is labor-saving since the rods are placed in the angles without losing time in measuring the spacing. Since the thickness of concrete outside the reinforcement is evenly distributed without having projecting corners as normally exists in a round spiral, material is saved. Also, it is stronger, as there is no flexible spring between the rods as is the case where round spirals are used. Accordingly, the stress is more uniform. It is easy to handle, since welding is accomplished readily and the end of the spiral web may be welded to the ends of the rods or at intervals therebetween. Furthermore, it adapts itself readily to the structure of the various units which comprise my construction, and which will be described more fully hereinafter.

Each vertical column 21 has a supporting bracket 31 formed at the sides thereof near the top at a point which is not critical and which may vary considerably depending upon the particular circumstances of construction. As may be seen in Fig. 3 a corner column 21 will have two supporting brackets 31 and 32 at right angles to each other. These brackets are made integral with the column. Reinforcement rods may be joined to the main column reinforcement rods and the concrete poured so that the bracket 31 is integral with the column 21.

Each bracket 31 has a longitudinal groove 35 running outwardly from the column through the center to the end of the bracket, which may be made with slightly sloping sides leaving shoulders 33 and 34 on either side. As may be seen in Figs. 5 and 6, the inside shoulder 34 is somewhat higher than the outside shoulder 33. The reason for this will be apparent later as the description proceeds.

Throughout the description those parts or units which are adjacent to or form part of the outside walls of the building, as constructed, will be referred to as outside parts, such as outside shoulder, etc. Those parts or units which, by comparison, are on the inner side, are referred to as inside parts.

The longitudinal groove 35 extends toward the column proper for a short distance, and then drops down to form a cavity 36 adjacent the column. This cavity 36 provides a means for interlocking other members which are supported by the bracket 31 when these other members have a complementary projecting tongue and bulge which slips into position in groove 35 and cavity 36.

An outside column 22 is used Where there is no corner for the building construction. This column 22 has two brackets which correspond in structure to the brackets 31 and 32 of corner outside column 21. However, since it is not a corner column, the brackets are not at right angles to each other, but instead are on oppositely dis.- Pd$ side of he mn ,2- Thus, h y e n po tion to support longitudinally extending girders. In all other respects, the brackets on column 22 are identical with brackets on column 21 in that they have an outer lower shoulder and an inner higher shoulder, a depression and a cavity, all corresponding to the structure of the brackets for column 21.

A third outside column 23 is used along the transverse outer wall of the building construction where there is no corner, This column 23 corresponds to the other outer column 22 having brackets on oppositely disposed sides which are identical to the brackets on column 22 and correspond to the structure of the brackets on column 21. However, since column 23 is in a position to support an inner girder running longitudinally of the building, a third bracket 38 is provided on the inside surface of the column 23. This third bracket 38 corresponds to and is identical with the brackets which are mounted on an inside column 24. Since column 24 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 7, the construction of the inside bracket 38 will be described in connection with the column 24.

Inside column 24 is constructed similar to the corner column 21, previously described, in that, it is octagonal with appropriate reinforcement. The difference lies in the type of brackets used. Brackets 41 and 42, similar in construction to the brackets 31 of column 21, are formed on oppositely disposed surfaces of this inside column 24. As before, these brackets may be made integral with the column itself.

The structure may be seen by referring to Fig. 7. The upper surface of the supporting bracket 41 has shoulders 43 and 44 of equal height. A longitudinal depression or groove 47 separates the shoulders 43 and 44. This groove 47 deepens to an inner cavity 48 adjacent the face of the column 24.

The brackets 41 and 42 of inner column 24 have a greater lateral extension or longer supporting surface than the brackets 31 and 32 described in connection with column 21. The upper or supporting surface of the brackets 41 and 42 is stepped, so that a second pair of shoulders 45 and 46, running longitudinally and separated by the longitudinal depression or groove 47, extend beyond shoulders 43 and 44. These shoulders 45 and 46 being stepped down are lower than the shoulders 43 and 44. This may be seen in Figs. 9 and 10 in which the higher shoulders 43 and 44 are adjacent the surface of the column 24, while an outwardly extended portion of the brackets 41 and 42 has the stepped or lower shoulders 45 and 46.

The column brackets support the ends of supporting girders running therebetween. Thus, an outside girder 51 is suspended between two outside columns 21 and 22. This girder 51 may have an outside wall 53 formed as part of and integral therewith. As previously mentioned, the girder 51 is formed of poured concrete with reinforcement rods. The reinforcement rods conform to the shape of the girder just as the reinforcement rods conform to the shape of the column 21 as previously described. It will be seen that the outside wall 53 may be made integral with the supporting girder 51 when it, too, is made of reinforced poured concrete. However, if desired, the outside wall may be suspended in a manner which will be described hereinafter in connection with inside walls.

Girders 51 may be formed in a shape to be complementary to the supporting brackets 31. Thus, it will have a vertical section which fits into the groove 35 of bracket 31 and a laterally extending portion which rests on the outside shoulder 33 of bracket 31.

On the upper surface, the edge of the girder 51 has a longitudinal upwardly extending portion forming an edge or shoulder 54 which will correspond in height to the top of the shoulder 34 of bracket 31 when the girder 51 is placed in position. This may be seen in Fig. 5. The resulting longitudinal depression 55 provides a nesting place for the projection on the underside of the beams in the ends of the floor slab, which will be supported by the girder 51. The edge or shoulder 54 provides an interlocking means for both girder and column. The height of the ridge or shoulder 54 will vary periodically along the girder 51 so as to form a number of periodic sections complementary to an arch. This is illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2.

As may be seen in Fig. 1, these outside supporting girders 51 and corresponding transverse girders 52 connect the outside columns 21, 22 and 23 circumferentially about the building.

Interior girders 61 are provided which have a similar construction to the outside girders 51. The interior girders run longitudinally of the building construction so as to connect outside columns 23'with interior column 24. In the inner sections of the buildings, i. e., where there is no corner, the girder 61 has laterally extending portions, the ends of which rest on the stepped or lowered shoulders of the brackets 38. The shoulders of the interior bracket 38 are of equal height with their upper surfaces on the same level, that is, there is no raised shoulder as there is on the outside columns. The girder 61 has a longitudinally extending ridge 62 on the underside thereof, laterally in the center, which is complementary to the groove 47 in supporting bracket 41. This may be seen in Figs. 7 and 9. Each end of the girder 61 has an extending tongue 63 with a bulge 64 on the underside thereof which protrudes below the portion 62 for a short distance complementary to the inner cavity 48 of the supporting bracket 41, as may be seen in Fig. 10. This structure again provides interlocking between the girder 61 and the bracket 41, which is part of column 24.

A longitudinal depression or groove 65 is provided along the top of girder 61. The dimensions of the groove are not critical and may vary under the particular circumstances. tion on the underside of the beams in the floor slabs as did the outside girder 51. The longitudinal groove forms shoulders 66 and 67 on either side thereof.

Both of the shoulders 66 and 67 on girder 61 conform in shape to the shoulder 54 described previously in connection with girder 51. The height of the shoulder varies periodically along the length of the girder by increasing the cross sectional dimension or depth so as to form an upper surface complementary to an arch. Thus, the shoulders 66 and 67 of the girder 61 correspond in shape to the shoulder 54 shown in Fig. 2.

As may be seen in Fig. 1, the interior girder 61 is greater in width than the exterior girder 51. This must be, since the interior girders 61 carry two floor slabs, i. e., one extending from each side, while the outside girders 51 carry the other end of the floor slabs which extends from one side only, that is, the inside. The floor slab 71 comprises a fiat rectangular section made of poured concrete with reinforcement rods. The dimensions of the floor slab 71 may, of course, vary under the particular circumstances of use. They may be made in one form so as to cover the entire area between the four supporting columns 21, 22, 23 and 24. Thus, one floor slab may cover one section or unit of the building construction or the area between any four columns. The upper surface of the floor slab 71 is, of course, level since it is the floor surface. The depth of cross sectional dimension of the floor slab, however, varies periodically in one direction, so as to form a series of arches 72, as may be seen by referring to Fig. 2. These arches are formed so as to run transversely when the floor slab is placed in position in the building construction. Thus, the greater depth or cross sectional dimension forms a series of transverse T-beams 73 separated by the arches 72. The arches 72 in the floor slab 71 result in a formation which is complementary to the shape of the shoulders 66 and 67 on the girder 61 and the shoulder 54 on the girder 51. Thus, while the end of the floor slab is supported by the girders by means of the ends 82 of the transverse beam 73 nesting in the grooves 55 of the girder 51 and, on the other It provides a nesting place for the projecside, in the groove 65 of girder 61, the intermediate porgreater strength, taking into account changes of the stress.

The end of the T-beam portion 73 of the floor slab 71 has an enlarged downwardly-extending projection 82, rectangular in shape (Fig. 5). This projection, which is integral with the floor slab, fits into the longitudinal depression or groove 55 provided on outside girder 51 between the raised shoulder 54 and the end wall 53. The other end of each beam 73 of floor slab 71 has a similar projection which fits into one half of the longitudinal depression or groove 65 provided in the inside girder 61. The arched underside of the floor slab 71 rests on the arched shoulder 67 of the girder 61. A corresponding floor slab with a corresponding end projection fits into the other half of the groove 65 resting on the oppositelydisposed shoulder 66. Thus, the two floor slabs are supported by the single girder 61 and meet at that point in complementary relationship so as to form a continuous surface extending across the top of the girder 61.

The end of the transverse beam which extends along the edge of the floor slab 71 rests on the shoulder 34 of the supporting bracket 31. It is for this reason that the shoulder 34 is raised to a higher level so that it conforms to the height of the shoulder 54 on girder 51. Also, as may be seen in Fig. 6, this end beam is extended laterally so as to rest also on the shoulder 34 of supporting bracket 32. The end of this lateral extension drops down or increases in depth to rest on the depression of the girder 52 in the same way that the end of the beam 73 rests on the depression 55 in girder 51, as described previously. Thus, the floor slab, the supporting girders, and the supporting columns all become interlocked. When cement grout is added to joints, the structure becomes comparable to a monolithic structure.

Each transverse beam '73 carries a channel beam 83 having one side embedded therein in such a way that one side of the channel extends below the beam 73 while the other side is embedded therein. Channel beam 83 is moulded within the beam 73 at the time the concrete is poured so as to become integral therewith. This beam 83 may be seen in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 2. This provides a means for suspending a ceiling panel below floor slab 71.

Ceiling panel 84 is a single fiat slab of poured plaster or concrete with wire mesh reinforcement welded to an angle-iron frame. A plurality of channel beams 85 have one side embedded therein, with ends welded to the angleiron frame, running laterally at positions corresponding to the location of the channel. beams 83 in beams 73. The right-angle sides of the channel beams 83 and 85'are complementary so that the side of channel beam 85 may readily be hooked about the complementary side of channel beam 83 and welded together at the ends. In this way, floor slab 71 is the floor surface for the story above, while the ceiling slab 84 is the ceiling surface for the story below. This structure may be used throughout the building, providing additional stories.

As may be seen in Fig. 5, the end of the channel beam 83 is cut away, at 86, so as not to interfere with the surface of the beam 73 resting upon the shoulder 34 of the bracket 31 on outside column 21 and the shoulder 54 on the outside girder 51. 'The other end of the beam is cut away in a similar fashion so as not to interfere with the beam 73 resting on the shoulder 66 of inside girder 61.

It is preferable that additional support be provided from the longitudinal girders 51 and 61. This support may connect a floor beam or girder with the supporting girders 51 and 61. Accordingly, I have provided vertical piers 91 extending from and forming part of girders 51 and 94. The length of the pier 91 will correspond to the height of the girder 51. It is preferred that each pier 91 be positioned along the underside of the girder 51 at a point corresponding to or immediately beneath that portion of the girder 51 on which the end of the beam '73 of floor Slab 71 rests. In this way, the vertical pier 91 forms additional support beneath each transverse beam 73.

The pier 91 may be rectangular or square in crosssection. However, the particular size and shape may vary with the varying situations or conditions of use. Like the other units, the piers 91 are of poured concrete with steel rod reinforcements therein. Again, the reinforcement rods correspond in shape to that of the pier 91. In other words, instead of a circular spiral, as is the case in the art today, an angular or rectan gular spiral is provided, as described previously in connection with the columns. With this construction, longitudinally running rods are positioned at the corners of the angular spiral running throughout the length of the pier in one direction. The winding does not change direction, as in beams and girders, since there is no tensile stress. The advantages described previously in connection with the reinforcement of the octagonal columns are had with this type reinforcement for the rectangular piers. The reinforcing rods may be welded to the spiral in position as before.

The girder 51, with a number of piers 91 positioned periodically along the length thereof, may be made as one integral structure with lower girder 94. Thus, the reinforcing rods for girder 51 are joined to the reinforcing rods for the pier 91 and girder 94 by any suitable means, such as welding, and the concrete then poured about the structure. In this way, an integral or unitary section is provided which will extend between two supporting columns, forming a wall frame on which the walls of the building may be hung or otherwise attached during assembling.

This preferred form is illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the lower ends of each pier 91 are joined to a longitudinal floor beam or lower girder 94 running parallel to the supporting girder 51. The floor beam 94 may be terminated in a triangular section 96, which terminates in the form of an extending tongue having a structure similar to that described in connection with the end of the girders 51 and 61.

When this structure is used, an additional supporting bracket 97 is provided as part of and integral with the column 21 at the lower end thereof beneath the corresponding upper supporting bracket 31. The supporting brackets 31 and 97 may be identical in construction. The floor beam 9 5, with its reinforced end section 95 supported by the lower bracket 97 on column 21, is provided for additional strength and to make the panel level, straight, and anchored at the bottom as Well as on top.

The various wall panels used in this building construction may be made in single or unitary pieces, either of poured concrete or plaster, if desired, depending upon the location of the wall. In either case, the concrete or plaster may be formed on a wire mesh or screen stretched across an angle-iron frame. For instance, a coating of plaster for wall 102 may be made on the wire mesh 10.1 on an angle-iron panel as seen in Fig. 2, forming an inside wall panel. Similarly, a coating of poured concrete for wall 14. 3 may be placed on a wire mesh 101 on an angle-iron frame, forming an outside Wall panel. In each case, the wall panel may be made to any desired dimension. Thus, a similar wall panel. may be made which may be mounted to cover the entire area of one story or floor of the building between any two supporting columns, such as columns 21 and 22. Any desired number of windows and doors may be provided within the Wall panel in accordance with the particular design of the building.

As mentioned earlier in this description, it is intended that each of the various units which have been described be fabricated or precast and assembled as a finished unit at a central factory. In this way, they may be made on a mass production basis. The various unitsthat is, the columns, the girders, piers, and the wall panels, the floor slabs, and ceiling panels, etc.are assembled as a finished unit in the factory, with all utility piping and Wiring within the panels and all fixtures adjusted in their place. The units are then shipped as unitary pieces to the location, where they are assembled. Any of the various well known ways for lifting and moving heavy units into position may be used on location. According to my preferred method, a monorail may be provided on top of the columns. Initially, the various columns are placed in position and the other units are then assembled about the columns. Any number of stories may be added to the building structures, each story corresponding to the story below.

After any one group of columns, such as column 21, etc., has been placed in position, and the assembly of that building section completed, a second corresponding group of columns may be lifted and moved to position on top of the lower columns. The metal end plates 27 which are provided on each end of the supporting column and which are integral therewith, due to the welding of the plate to the reinforcing rods, are in complementary abutting position when one column is placed on top of another. Suitable bolts may then be inserted in the openings 28 provided in the corners thereof, thus securing the upper column in place on the lower column and a collar of concrete poured around the plates to make them fireproof.

in order that the various units may readily be lifted and placed in position by the monorails, a number of projecting metal loops are provided in each of the units into which a lifting hook may be inserted. Thus, one of the reinforcing rods provided for the pier 91 may have an extending loop, or a looped rod may be welded to the reinforcing rods in the pier or girder. This looped rod extends through the upper surface of the girder and doubles back upon itself so that both ends are welded to the reinforcement and embedded in the concrete, with a resulting loop 121 formed at a point corresponding to the position of the pier 91. Thus, a number of loops 1 1 may be provided at periodic positions along the length of the girder 51. The entire wall unit is then lifted by the loop 121 and carried by the monorail to position, and the ends thereof are slipped into the brackets 31, as described previously. With both ends mounted on the two supporting columns, the unit becomes interlocked.

Similarly, a reinforcement rod in floor slab 71 extends out through an end and back on itself to form a loop 122. Preferably, these extended loops 122 are provided at the end of the transversely-extending beam 73 forming part of the floor slab 71. A corresponding loop 122 extends through the other end of the floor slab.

Preferably, the end of transverse beam 73 and floor slab 71 has a rectangular section cut out, forming a recess 123 extending through the depth of the slab 71. The

. loop 122 may then pass through open rectangular recess 123. As before, the loop 122 provides a ready means of lifting the floor slab 71 by a monorail or crane and carrying it to position where it is lifted and set in place, with one end supported by girder 51 and the other end supported by girder 61. A corresponding floor slab may be placed in position with a complementary end also resting upon and supported by girder 61 so as to form a continuous floor surface, as mentioned previously.

Similarly, each unit of the structure may have loops extending from the end or edge thereof, which loops are formed as part of the unit itself, preferably, by the reinforcing rods therein, or loops welded thereto.

As may be seen in Fig. l, corners of the floor slab 71 are cut away to accommodate the square plate 27 on the supporting columns. As a result, when the various girders and floor slabs have been placed in position supported by the columns, a number of triangular openings 124 will result at each octagonal corner of the column. Also, rectangular openings will result in each floor slab section adjacent the loops 121 and 122 due to the recess 123. These various openings 123 and 124 may be filled with a suitable concrete grout. When the opening 123, for instance, is filled with concrete grout, the floor slab 71 is locked in position on the girders 51 and 61, due particularly to the loops 121 and 122 projecting therethrough. Similarly, concrete grout in the opening 124 about each supporting column will lock the girders and floor slabs in position supported by the column. Thus, when the concrete grout hardens, the entire unit has become interlocked, due to the mechanical arrangement of exposed looped reinforcement and the hardened concrete, thus forming a unitary structure comparable to a monolithic construction.

For the sake of appearance, any number of arrangements may be made for providing wall panels with con- .tiguous joints and corners in the building. For instance,

Wall panel 126 may be provided as a continuation of the Wall panel 53. At a corner, the wall panels may be continued to meet at right angles. Correspondingly, outside wall panels may be extended to meet outside the columns 22 and 23.

Similarly, inner wall panels 127 may be provided on the interior supporting girder 61 to extend beyond the supporting column 24 so as to be continguous with a corresponding wall panel beyond the column. In this way, the various corners and other joints are finished off to form a continuous surface, thus presenting a neat appearance. It will be obvious that other corner pieces may be provided, if desired.

The various spaces between the wall panels, ceiling panels, and floor panels provide the necessary space for electrical conductors, heating pipes, etc. If desired, the space between the arch 72 and the ceiling panel may be filled with a suitable insulation material. Also, if desired, an arched framework of thin insulating material suspended from arched wire mesh Welded to the wire mesh 101 in the wall panel or to the wire mesh in the ceiling panel may be provided, over which the concrete is poured to form the arch. In this way, the insulating material is supplied within the arch, While at the same time a suitable support is provided for forming the arch during the pouring of the concrete. The wall panels and piers may be poured over formed wire mesh in a similar Way, if desired.

While the preferred forms of my construction have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A concrete skeleton for a building comprising, in combination, a plurality of prefabricated spaced vertical columns, brackets integral with said columns extending from at least one face thereof near their load-bearing ends, thereby to provide support for beams, said brackets being characterized by having recesses formed therein, said recesses having downwardly and inwardly sloped sides, the recesses being axially oriented in the direction of beams to be held by said brackets to abut said columns, said recesses further being characterized by an additional sloped section at the ends of said recesses, thereby to provide support for beams, preformed beams connecting said columns from bracket to bracket, each beam being formed with ends matching said recesses in said brackets, whereby said columns and beams in mutua1 assembly form an interlocking structure.

2. A concrete skeleton for a prefabricated fireproof building comprising, in combination, precast individual columns spaced from each other as principal load-bearing elements, said columns having brackets near the upper load-bearing ends thereof, each bracket being characterized by a slope-sided channel formed therein having the narrow section of the channel at the bottom thereof, the bottom of said channel being at two levels, the level adjacent to the column being lower than that outward therefrom, and precast horizontal beams supported and engaged by said brackets the ends of said beams matching the channels formed in said brackets, the beams with said columns forming an interlocking structure to define a floor bearing skeleton.

3. A prefabricated building skeleton in accordance with claim 2, characterized by beams having slope-sided channels in their upper faces, said channels being adapted to receive edges of floor panels.

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